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Obituaries

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PLAINS TWP. - Sunshine Market, a family-owned grocery store for the past six decades, will close next Saturday.

In September, Elizabeth Colonna, store owner, announced the impending closure of the Route 315 supermarket, mentioning customers "may see us again in the future with new ventures."

Anthony Colonna, store manager and grandson of Elizabeth Colonna, confirmed Wednesday the store would close after business Dec. 19. On Nov. 29, the store cut its hours, closing at 8 p.m. instead of 10 p.m., and all items were marked half-off this week. Most store shelves were empty Wednesday.

Anthony Colonna could not announce any "definite" plans for the 100,000-by-80,000-square-foot building.

Three other businesses in the Sunshine complex, Flynn and O'Hara school uniform store, Luzerne Bank and That Guy with the Dough pizzeria, will remain open, Anthony Colonna said.

The store employed 148 people in September and there are about 50 employees left, Anthony Colonna said. Their last day will be next Saturday.

Paula Gerosky and her mother, Olga Merowsky, both of Edwardsville, preferred to do their shopping at Sunshine even though there are grocery stores closer to their home. They heard the store was closing so they shopped Wednesday to support their favorite supermarket one more time.

"It's a shame they're closing, it really is," Merowsky said. "Their porketta and meat department was the best and they had good customer service. People are really going to miss it."

"The people that worked here were so nice," Gerosky agreed. "They really seemed to care. The bigger stores, employees will help you, but they didn't take that extra step like they did here. We'll miss it."

rgrochowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2117

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11 posted comments

Thanks for so many years. I always enjoyed shopping at this place. Mr and Mrs. Colonna did a great job along with there children. Unfotunately it went down hill when is grandson who was quoted in this article started to get more involved. Very unprofessional. But thanks again, ill miss it

Here we go again! Gee, Johhny W, so you think Mohegan caused this to close, hmmm? Where did you get your information? It's amazing that if a business closes within a 50 mile radius of Wilkes-Barre that the casino gets blamed. Try looking at three other large grocery stores in close proximity to Sunshine as the reasons for it closing.

Sunshine was a great store to shop. The staff and managers where always friendly. The only thing i wondered about the closing that is, I bet the Boys from the Mohegan Sun had to do with this closing. Sooner of later gambling takes over and grabs it all...

My many thanks to the Colonna family, for all the years of great service yur family has given to the wilkes-barre area and beyond. We will miss you and your store, it was always a pleasure to shop there. I can remember my grand father taking me to the old store in East End, when I was just a small child; my family has been wit you since the beginning, and there with you until the end. Good Luck, and God Bless, I hope to see a return some day???

I loved Sunshine, but unfortunately due to my hours, it wasn't until recently that I began to go there again. My heart was broken when I heard they were closing. I was willing to pay more than the "super stores" merely for how comfortable the store felt. I never saw a sour face on an employee nor heard them cmplain. My daughter LOVED the kids carts. My fiance said it was like going back in time and it wasn't until I was checking out recently that I noticed that the clock on the wall in Sunshine had stopped. LOL Unfortunately all good things must come to an end. Goodbye old friend.

I used to shop there all the time too. Even though I have at least 4 stores that are closer. Their prices were unbeatable. But their meats and produce could've been better. Everyone was indeed nice. But I think their location doomed them.

Here's hoping this closing is not for good, and possibly they are going to reopen there or at another location or maybe both. Sure wish they'd return to Wilkes-Barre. The shoppers in this area need Sunshine Market as an alternative to impersonal and often expensive chain stores that do not give personal attention to customers like they do at Sunshine nor do they have the selections of goods at Sunshine. Also the things sold there, many are good quality at a good price items made by local people and companies, something that does not happen in the other stores. We need these locally made items to still be available.

Another great business closing. The Sunshine Market will be missed by all. I shopped there for too many years to remember. Great service, excellent meats, veggies, and fruits. Prices were always very reasonable.